Young Voldemort

Let me try?

Harry pointed at himself, a question mark appearing next to his head.

Hey Dumbledore, aren't you the oldest wizard? How did you develop the habit of sponging off your parents?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Dumbledore said with a chuckle. "I don't know any Ancient Magic, Harry —I remember you used Ancient Magic to enhance Occlumency, that's how you pulled Voldemort's soul fragments into your Mental World and expelled them from your body, right?"

Harry immediately understood what Dumbledore was planning.

Good grief, so you want me to do the same thing, right?

"But I have a question," Harry said, holding up a finger. "Why are you so sure that the enhanced Ancient Magic Legilimency from the Ancients will pull the Voldemort fragment from Nagini into my Mental World?"

"It's just a guess, Harry," Dumbledore smile. "I believe you can do it."

Grass.

Do you believe I can do it?

Harry was a little unsure of what to say.

Based on a mere guess, you've asked me to try using Ancient Magic to enhance Legilimency in order to deal with Voldemort's fragments of consciousness?

That sounds a little exciting.

Harry wasn't afraid at all. In fact, if he were timid, he wouldn't be Gryffindor, nor would he be the legendary wizard of a hundred years ago.

To become a legendary wizard, courage is indispensable.

"I'm in," Harry nodded.

"Harry," Sirius offered a different opinion.

However, before he could speak, Snape interrupted him.

"So, just based on a guess, you're sending a Hogwarts student on a risk?" Snape retorted greasyly. "I seriously suspect our Headmaster has eaten too much candy, to the point that his brain is so sweet it's become syrupy and incapable of normal thinking."

"You know, although Snape and I have never gotten along," Sirius said, raising his hand to Dumbledore, "This time, I think he's right."

However, all he got in return was a sneer from Snape.

"I also think this is an unnecessary risk," Professor Lupin said, expressing his support.

"There has to be some..." Harry moved his fingers. "A challenge, yes, a challenge. I think Professor Dumbledore's suggestion is quite good, at least worthy of being my next research goal."

Seeing the disapproving looks on the three professors' faces, Harry spread his hands and smiled, "Don't be like that, professors—I genuinely believe it."

"Okay." Dumbledore nodded. "If you need anything, just let me know."

Sirius and his two friends had no choice. Although they disagreed with Dumbledore's idea, since Harry had already agreed, they couldn't object anymore.

That very evening, Harry was granted a vacation of over a month—he had started his summer vacation early—and he arrived in Vienna, where he met Veratia in Minister's Office Greater German Ministry of Magic.

"So you accepted Dumbledore's request?" Veratia asked expressionlessly.

"I think this is a challenge," Harry said, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you need me to do?" Veratia asked. "Have me provide you with some... volunteer Dark Wizard for experiments? Or some kind of magical materials?"

A voluntary Dark Wizard?

Harry smirked and said, "They said it was voluntary, Veratia. Do you even believe that yourself?"

You can fool the pigeons, but don't fool yourself. Sometimes you should think carefully: besides me, who else would believe you?

"Thank you, Veratia, you're so thoughtful." Harry kissed Veratia on the cheek. "I think what I need more are a few professors—I remember you took them to Vienna, didn't you?"

"Yes, we are in Vienna," Professor Rackham's voice rang out. "If you were to look up instead of just having your girlfriend in your eyes, you would find us hanging on the wall behind her."

Harry looked up and noticed the four huge portraits.

From left to right: Professor Charles Professor Rackham, Professor Rackham Percival Rackham, Professor Neofert Fitzgerald, and Professor Sen Bakhar.

"Hello, professors," Harry waved to them. "Long time no see."

"In fact, we've met several times, Potter," Professor Rackham grinned. "Of course, on those occasions your attention was entirely on your little sweetheart, and you didn't notice us at all—I mean, your girlfriend."

"So what brings you here, Harry?" Professor Fitzgerald asked. "Don't tell me you really want to try incorporating Ancient Magic into Legilimency."

"Yes, Professor," Harry nodded.

"I heard about this in the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts," Professor Fitzgerald said to the other professors. "I think this idea is somewhat dangerous. What do you think?"

"I think it's worth a try," Professor Sen Bakhar said. "Although Dumbledore doesn't know what Ancient Magic is, I think his idea is worth a shot—but I advise you, Potter, never choose to fight Voldemort's Horcrux during practice. It will have unpredictable consequences—after all, you're invading Mental World Mental World, not letting him into yours, understand?"

"I understand, Professor," Harry nodded.

Soon, Ancient Magic Discussion Group was temporarily established within the Ministry of Magic in Vienna.

After a series of discussions, a practical and feasible solution was finally put forward.

After receiving the plan, Harry immediately began practicing.

He started with the Dark Wizard that Veratia arranged for him. At first, he could only perform Legilimency, but with practice, Harry was able to pull other people's thoughts into his own Mental World.

He learned this lesson from Veratia.

When she came out of the Mental World, Veratia glared at Harry resentfully, then slung her legs between her legs and went into the bathroom.

When they returned to Hogwarts, the OWL exams were already over.

Harry didn't go to see Ron or Hermione; he went straight to the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts.

"Looks like you've made some progress in your practice, haven't you?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.

"Hmm," Harry nodded and said, "I can start with an inanimate object like Hufflepuff's Cup, and then use it on Nagini after confirming that it won't damage the vessel."

"No problem," Dumbledore said with a smile.

"However, I need to take the Golden Cup with me," Harry said to Dumbledore. "Veratia instructed me that when using Legilimency Horcrux, I must do it in her presence."

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded happily. "It would be even better if Miss Grindelwald were willing to help us."

"Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, and now we have two treasures in the family, "Dumbledore thought happily.

But if Veratia finds out what he's thinking... then things might not be so good.

The two of them used the power of the Phoenix to Apparition to Vienna. At first, Fawkes was a little reluctant, but after hearing that they were going to Vienna, Fawkes nodded his bird head and agreed almost without hesitation.

"So you guys insisted on bringing this silly bird along, right?" Veratia clearly showed a look of disgust when she saw Fawkes.

Ha, this silly bird, it's definitely after Fiona!

"I think it's better not to interfere with free love," Dumbledore said, raising an eyebrow.

Veratia's little face immediately fell.

She remembered perfectly well that it was this England country girl (not really) in front of her who had seduced her brother.

Ha, you have the nerve to talk about free love in front of me?!

"Enough with the small talk," Veratia said, her tiny face grim. "Harry, I think you're ready... so let's begin."

Harry nodded and turned to signal Dumbledore.

Dumbledore carefully opened the bag and used Charms to guide Hufflepuff's Cup, placing it on the desk in front of Veratia.

Harry took out his wand and aimed it at Hufflepuff's Cup.

"Legilimency!"

He felt a sudden dizziness, followed by a pull, and fell into the outer perimeter of the castle in his own Mental World.

Where is this?

Harry muttered to himself as he slowly walked forward.

He then realized that this was Hogwarts fifty years ago.

He walked all the way to the Headmaster's office in Slytherin and pushed the door open.

Inside sat a man Harry didn't recognize, with thick, shiny straw-colored hair and a ginger mustache.

This must be the Potions professor and Slytherin Head of House from fifty years ago, Harry thought. Just by looking at him, he was indeed much more pleasing to the eye than Professor Snape — Harry was at least certain that this professor had a habit of washing his hair.

The professor sat in a comfortable winged armchair with his feet resting on a velvet footrest, holding a small glass of wine in one hand and picking through a box of jackfruit with the other.

Six or seven boys were sitting around Slughorn, one of whom Harry recognized— Tom Riddle, whose black and gold Marvolo ring gleamed on his finger.

Riddle spoke as soon as Harry entered the office.

"Professor Slughorn, is Professor Merrythought really retiring?"

Harry realized that the professor's name was Slughorn —he remembered his parents mentioning the professor before, and his father had scolded him for being blind.

"Tom, Tom, if I knew, I couldn't tell you," Slughorn said, shaking his sugar-coated finger reproachfully at Riddle, but winking at the same time. "What I must say is that I want to know where you got your information; you know more than half the professors."

Riddle smiled; the other boys smiled too, casting admiring glances at him.

"You Sprite, you know things you shouldn't know, and you know how to please important people—thank you for the pineapple, and by the way, you're absolutely right, it's my favorite—"

The boys chuckled again.

"I'm confident you'll become Minister for Ministry of Magic within twenty years. If you keep giving me jackfruit, it'll only take 15 years. I have very strong connections in the Ministry of Magic."

The other boys laughed, but Tom Riddle just smiled.

Harry noticed that he wasn't the oldest of the group of boys, but they all seemed to regard him as their leader.

"I don't know, sir. I don't know if politics is a good fit for me, sir," Tom Riddle said when there was no laughter. "I don't have any family connections."

Harry thought to himself, "Indeed, you've taken your talents to the Dark Arts."

A pair of boys nearby exchanged a knowing smile. Harry believed they were simply thinking of a joke circulating in private, or perhaps they knew it, or were guessing, and it was related to their leader— Riddle's illustrious ancestor.

"What are you saying?" Slughorn said cheerfully. "Even people from wizarding families don't necessarily have your abilities—no, you will achieve great things, Tom. I have never misjudged any student."

The small golden clock on the desk behind Slughorn chimed; it was already eleven o'clock.

"Good heavens, is it already time? You'd better get going, kids, or we'll be in trouble— Lestrange, I need your paper by tomorrow, or I'm putting you in solitary confinement, and you too, Avery."

The boys lined up and walked out of the room one by one.

Slughorn rose from his armchair and placed the empty cup on the desk. A movement behind him made him look around; Riddle was still standing there.

"Hurry up, Tom," Professor Slughorn urged. "You don't want to get caught outside after lights out, do you? You're Prefect; you should set a good example."

"Professor, I'd like to ask you something," Riddle said calmly.

"Then ask quickly, child—" Slughorn said.

"Professor, I'd like to ask you if you know anything about Horcrux," Tom asked.

Professor Slughorn wasn't angry; instead, he stared intently at Tom, Tom Riddle was also staring back at him.

"The topic of Defense Against the Dark Arts, right?" he asked.

Harry could tell that Slughorn definitely knew this wasn't schoolwork.

"No, sir, I read it in a book, but I don't quite understand it," Tom Riddle said.

Just then, Harry suddenly noticed that Riddle had turned his head and was looking in Harry's direction.

Harry thought this was something Riddle had seen in his memory, but to his surprise, Riddle smiled at him, a smile that was so chilling it sent shivers down his spine.

He immediately became wary.

Immediately afterwards, Professor Slughorn disappeared.

Riddle also pulled out his wand and pointed it at Harry.

"Alright, alright, this little wizard who doesn't know any better," Riddle said with a grin. "I really didn't expect you to dare trespass into my Horcrux— "

(End of this chapter)